Saving on gas doesn't require going small anymore.
print By Joann Muller
It looks like this summer could be a repeat of 2008, when the price of regular gasoline spiked to $4.11 in July and panicked drivers rushed to trade in their big, thirsty SUVs for gas-sipping compact cars. When prices subsided by autumn, however, buyer's remorse set in for many consumers who wondered, "What was I thinking?"
If gas prices keep rising this time around, anyone who wants to go small has a more appealing range of cars to choose from, including the redesigned Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus, and the new Chevrolet Cruze.
But consumers don't have to condemn themselves to cramming into a tiny four-seater to save on gas. Aside from electric cars (which have special characteristics), there are now plenty of fuel-efficient choices in virtually every vehicle category, from luxury sedans to minivans and pickup trucks.
The 42-mpg Lexus CT 200h, for instance, starting at $29,120, is the most efficient upscale sedan on the market, according to www.fueleconomy.gov, a U.S. Department of Energy website. Among wagons, the diesel-powered Audi A3 (starting at $30,250) and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI ($24,995) both get an average 34 mpg. Even the full-size, gasoline-powered Toyota Avalon ($32,595) delivers an impressive combination of performance and fuel economy from its V6 engine: 268 hp and 23 mpg. Meanwhile, more efficient crossover utility vehicles have largely replaced their hog-like SUV brethren.
"What eludes consumers is how rapidly the market is changing," said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for automotive research site Edmunds.com. When gas prices spiked three years ago, he said, carmakers made a commitment to develop more fuel-efficient powertrains throughout their vehicle lineups. That includes not just more hybrids, but also smaller, turbo-charged gas engines, diesels and efficient six-speed transmissions.
"You don't have to buy a small car," said Reed, "and you don't have to buy a Prius either." The 50-mpg Toyota Prius hybrid naturally gets more consideration when gas prices are high. Indeed, it is still the most fuel-efficient family sedan on the market and the world's best-selling hybrid.
But the Prius may be harder to come by due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, where it is built. Toyota and other carmakers have been forced to suspend production because of parts shortages and rolling blackouts. As a result, prices are going up: In the first four days after the March 11 quake, the average price of a Prius rose $135, or 0.5%, to $25,629, according to Truecar.com.
To help consumers navigate the often-confusing data about fuel economy, the EPA recently changed the way its estimates mpg. Fuel economy labels now reflect the effects of faster speeds and acceleration, air conditioning systems and colder outside temperatures. And to make sure consumers aren't misled by the typically higher highway mileage numbers, the new labels include an average mpg (based on 55% city driving, 45% highway driving).
Reed's advice is not to trade in your car simply because you want better fuel economy. You'll pay about $2,000 in sales tax and license fees on a new $20,000 car—that's equivalent to half a year in gas money on your gas guzzler. "It's costly to change cars," he said. "Don't do it just because of gas prices."
If you're going to trade in your vehicle anyway, then by all means, look for one that gets good mileage, he said.
Click here to see the full list of The Most Fuel-Efficient Cars In All Categories
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But consumers don't have to condemn themselves to cramming into a tiny four-seater to save on gas. Aside from electric cars (which have special characteristics), there are now plenty of fuel-efficient choices in virtually every vehicle category, from luxury sedans to minivans and pickup trucks.
The 42-mpg Lexus CT 200h, for instance, starting at $29,120, is the most efficient upscale sedan on the market, according to www.fueleconomy.gov, a U.S. Department of Energy website. Among wagons, the diesel-powered Audi A3 (starting at $30,250) and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI ($24,995) both get an average 34 mpg. Even the full-size, gasoline-powered Toyota Avalon ($32,595) delivers an impressive combination of performance and fuel economy from its V6 engine: 268 hp and 23 mpg. Meanwhile, more efficient crossover utility vehicles have largely replaced their hog-like SUV brethren.
"What eludes consumers is how rapidly the market is changing," said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for automotive research site Edmunds.com. When gas prices spiked three years ago, he said, carmakers made a commitment to develop more fuel-efficient powertrains throughout their vehicle lineups. That includes not just more hybrids, but also smaller, turbo-charged gas engines, diesels and efficient six-speed transmissions.
"You don't have to buy a small car," said Reed, "and you don't have to buy a Prius either." The 50-mpg Toyota Prius hybrid naturally gets more consideration when gas prices are high. Indeed, it is still the most fuel-efficient family sedan on the market and the world's best-selling hybrid.
But the Prius may be harder to come by due to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, where it is built. Toyota and other carmakers have been forced to suspend production because of parts shortages and rolling blackouts. As a result, prices are going up: In the first four days after the March 11 quake, the average price of a Prius rose $135, or 0.5%, to $25,629, according to Truecar.com.
To help consumers navigate the often-confusing data about fuel economy, the EPA recently changed the way its estimates mpg. Fuel economy labels now reflect the effects of faster speeds and acceleration, air conditioning systems and colder outside temperatures. And to make sure consumers aren't misled by the typically higher highway mileage numbers, the new labels include an average mpg (based on 55% city driving, 45% highway driving).
Reed's advice is not to trade in your car simply because you want better fuel economy. You'll pay about $2,000 in sales tax and license fees on a new $20,000 car—that's equivalent to half a year in gas money on your gas guzzler. "It's costly to change cars," he said. "Don't do it just because of gas prices."
If you're going to trade in your vehicle anyway, then by all means, look for one that gets good mileage, he said.
The Most Fuel-Efficient Cars In All Categories
 |
Toyota Avalon
A tad bland, perhaps, but this full-sized sedan's V6 delivers an impressive blend of power and efficiency at 23 mpg. |
Audi A3 TDI
More expensive than the Volkswagen Jetta Sportswagen TDI, but both diesel-powered wagons get 34 mpg. |
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 hybrid
At 21 mpg, GM's hybrid truck outshines all full-size pickups for fuel economy.
Click here to see the full list of The Most Fuel-Efficient Cars In All Categories
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